New sanctioning body formed to manage busy Caribbean race calendar

The Caribbean Sailing Association has created a new Regatta Sanctioning Committee with the aim to manage and supervise the scheduling of upcoming national and international events in the very busy Caribbean race calendar for 2013.

With the continued growth of the major international events taking place in the Caribbean, and no central authority helping to coordinate the events, the CSA has agreed to step in and establish policy to reduce crowding and conflicts on the race calendar.

The CSA recognizes the importance of avoiding scheduling conflicts for the good of everybody involved in the sport. A coordinated schedule will allow more sailors and yachts to attend more events. This in turn will benefit each individual regatta by attracting the greatest number of participants, and just as importantly help the local economies on each island.

The goal of this new policy is for each major event to 'own' their place on the yearly calendar, thereby eliminating the need to coordinate on an annual basis. New events will be slotted in around the established regattas.

Although some events cater to different types of yachts, the CSA will still endeavor to avoid conflicting dates. Many of the Superyachts depend on the same sailors that are racing on the grand prix boats, so a conflicting date can prevent an owner or yacht from attending. Furthermore, the same international press and exposure is being sought by the different events, so avoiding overlaps will help ensure maximum coverage of each regatta. This will also allow charter boats and cruisers to be able to attend more events.

The Caribbean regatta schedule is already set for 2013 and posted on the website Caribbean Sailing. The new regatta sanctioning policy will take effect from 2014 onward, and each island, club, or organizer of a major international event in the Caribbean is asked to contact the CSA by June 1 each year to submit their proposed regatta schedule for the following year.